• Number of member organizations from industry and research grows to 50
• The specialty glass producer from Mainz is a strong partner from the region and a user of Industrie 4.0 solutions.

The SmartFactory KL technology initiative welcomes its 50th member: the specialty glass manufacturer SCHOTT, headquarteed in Mainz, Germany. The purpose of SmartFactoryKL is to bring Industrie 4.0 from concept to realization by focusing on the pressing issues currently facing manufacturing companies. Suppliers and users work closely together to develop Industrie 4.0 solutions and share experiences.

“We were convinced about the Industrie 4.0 and digitalization concepts both by the experts in Kaiserslautern as well as the approach taken by the technology initiative as a neutral working platform and demonstrator. Specialty glass manufacture is a very complex process, which has a great potential for optimization through digitalization. We hope to learn from the experience of the SmartFactoryKL circle of partners and offer our own ideas and approaches to the joint effort,” said Dr. Jens Schulte, member of the Board of Management at SCHOTT, responsible for finance and information technology. Additional benefit according to SCHOTT: the close proximity of our two organizations to one another.

“We are very proud of the fact that 50 members have now joined the initiative! We are especially pleased to announce the addition of the internationally successful SCHOTT AG, another strong company from our region, and welcome it into our partner circle. This confirms our belief that Industrie 4.0 will enjoy international success if we act in accordance with the motto “Think global, act local,” said SmartFactoryKL chairman Prof. Dr. Detlef Zühlke.

SmartFactoryKL was founded in 2005 with seven companies and research institutes from the region and has grown steadily ever since both nationally and internationally.

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